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Method

Preheat the oven to fan 160C/
conventional 180C/gas 4. Butter a
20 x 13cm loaf tin and line the base
with greaseproof paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together
the butter and sugar with an electric
whisk until creamy. Beat in the eggs
one at a time (don’t worry that the
mixture looks curdled). Stir in the
mashed bananas, pecans, raisins
and buttermilk.

Sift the flour and bicarbonate of
soda on top of the banana mixture,
then fold in until evenly mixed, taking
care not to overmix. Spoon into the
prepared tin and level the top.

Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes until a
skewer pushed in the centre comes
out almost, but not quite, dry. Remove
from the oven and leave for about
10 minutes, then turn it out of the
tin on to a cooling rack to cool.

For the icing, mix the icing sugar
with 2-3 tsp cold water to give a
smooth, runny consistency. Using
a dessertspoon, drizzle the icing in
lines across the loaf.

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Comments, questions and tips

Comments

I have just made this today. It was lovely, few alterations made, didn't use buttermilk, I found the mixture wet enough, put double quantity of fruit as didn't have pecan. Rather than make it in a loaf I made them in bun tins. I find I am more disciplined if they are in individual portions!! Although I have just had 2!!!

My oven cooked the loaf in an hour, but I think I should have removed the cake from the oven about five minutes earlier. My fault! So I end up with a nearly burnt cake, but tasted very nice nevertheless. I used raisins this time but, to my taste, the recipe will be improved by adding chocolate chips, or some type of berry instead. I will definitely try it again.

Found this recipe when off work and looking for things to do, making it without Buttermilk (as per suggestions in the comments - thanks) and substituted 50g of sultanas and 50g of fresh Blueberries for the raisins & pecans... I loved it, family (including our 3 yr old) & friends loved it too. Now the post christmas glut is over, its time to use up the left overs - including more bananas - so what better to do with them than to remake this banana loaf. If all recipies are so easy & successful I think I may be a baking convert. Yummy!

I didnt have any pecans so put in more raisins instead and it was still very yummy. I cooked this loaf in a round cake tin as didnt have a loaf tin and it still cooked perfect and wasnt too moist. The kids loved it and had a slice in there lunch boxes today!

Have made this several times now. Don't use buttermilk, and use chocolate chips instead of raisins, and whatever nuts I have available. This is definitely one of the best cakes I have ever made! I usually cut it into 4 and freeze. Still as yummy once defrosted.
Fantabulous!!!!!

I have just finished baking this cake and just had to have a taster really lovely cake.
My oven tends to get really hot so I had to take it out 20min before the time as the top started to go a darker shade of brown. It was cooked perfectly.
Lots of you have not bothered with buttermilk its really easy to do. Just warm the required milk in the microwave for 30 seconds (I used semi-skimmed milk) and then shake a few drops of lemon juice in it, give a quick stir and leave it for a couple of minutes should be a bit lumpy and then add it to your ingredients. No need to buy this stuff.
I tend to keep a bottle of lemon juice in the fridge.

I used bread flour. Half white and half wholemeal. I put walnuts and sultanas in it. I omitted the milk. I doubled the quantity as I had a lot of bananas and it made 3 loaves!! One to eat and two to freeze!
It was delicious.

Swapped pecans for 100g dark chocolate, and made my own buttermilk (milk with lemon juice). REALLY nice, and not as sweet as the banana cake I normally make. I haven't iced it yet, but I don't think it would really need it. Very handy that it can be frozen :)

I added walnuts and sultanas instead of raisins and plain yogurt instead of buttermilk. It turned out amazing (even though it fell out of the oven half way through cooking!!..I'm so clumsy! and a disaster in the kitchen). Its really given me a boost to try other things! I have another in the oven cooking now as I want to show off to family and friends!!!!

This loaf is definitely worth the 5 stars. I made this cake with pecans and milk chocolate chips and it was a wonderful. I also used semi skimmed milk instead of buttermilk and the cake was lovely and moist, not too moist and very moreish. I served it to friends and family after supper and they all loved it. Will make again and may add more chocolate next time!

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